Coalition Representing 24 Million Workers Blasts ‘Dangerous’ Cuellar Bill
A coalition of 40 labor and social justice groups on Monday sounded the alarm over anti-worker legislation recently introduced by right-wing Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar of Texas and two House Republicans.
The Worker Power Coalition, which represents 24 million workers, took aim at the “dangerous” Worker Flexibility and Choice Act (WFCA), unveiled last month by Cuellar, along with GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik (N.Y.) and Michelle Steel (Calif.).
Experts warn the bill would gut key parts of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, impacting not only gig workers employed by ride-hailing giants like Lyft and Uber or food delivery services like DoorDash but also others whose companies want to skirt minimum wage and overtime protections.
Nicole Moore, a part-time Lyft driver and the president of coalition member Rideshare Drivers United, pointed to the battle over Proposition 22 in California—an industry-backed ballot measure that enabled app-based companies to classify workers as independent contractors rather than employees but was struck down in state court.
“Uber and Lyft poured $200 million into Prop 22 in California to take away our rights to unemployment benefits, workplace safety, and sick time. All during a global pandemic. Now they’re trying to do it federally,” said Moore.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Williams, president of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, another coalition member, directed criticism at Cuellar and called on Democrats in Congress to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act.
“The latest attack on working people by Rep. Cuellar is proof positive that elections matter,” Williams said. “Rep. Cuellar voted against the PRO Act, which would fix worker misclassification, to side with billionaire executives in Silicon Valley over his constituents.”
Justice Democrats, which supported Cisneros, highlighted Monday that “Pelosi helped conservative anti-abortion Democrat Henry Cuellar win” and “now, Cuellar has a new bill with Republicans to eviscerate labor protections in America.”
“The House has acted: Now, the time has never been more urgent for the Senate to hold a vote for the passage of the PRO Act,” Williams added.
The Democrat-controlled House approved the PRO Act in February 2020 and May 2021. However, it lacks the Republican support necessary to pass in the Senate unless Democrats kill the filibuster, which a few right-wing Democratic senators oppose.
Originally published at Commondreams.org.
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